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Milo at 7 weeks

About Me

I thought it was time I updated this a bit as it was way back ing 2011 when I first started my blog and crafting.
Married to Alistair for now for almost 22 years, who puts up with my ever expanding craft area.
I have 1 lovely son and daughter in law, and various grandpets.
I am never seen without some kind of knitting going on and if not that, it's cardmaking. I have recently started trying my hand at mixed media and sewing.
I sing with the Inverness Choral Society, which I love.
I also love where I live, the Highlands of Scotland.
Oh, and I love Autumn, it's my favourite season with all the fantastic shades of brown and gold, the crispness of the air, and the cosy nights indoors.
And the best bit ever.. is that I'm now lucky enough to be RETIRED!!

Monday, 30 December 2013

Hello Friends and Visitors, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas however you celebrate it, we had a quiet one but, relaxing all the same. We spent it with Damian and Moreen and all the pets, and Damian was on the cooking and made the most fabulous meal, too much really, but oh so good. Lovely presents, given and received, and not a duff one amongst them.I hope you are all well and if not well here are some HUGSSSSS, to help you hopefully to feel a bit better.There is some awful weather down South, I can't imagine what that's like for these poor people, I really feel for them, and now on the news it would seem that Ayrshire is being hit. so Rita, I hope you are not experiencing dreadful weather and are safe.Thank you all for your kind comments on my last card and the socks, I love to read all your remarks, keep them coming.Now I wasn't going to show these little tags, but I wanted to post something, I'm afraid that I've not been inspired to get crafting, I think I sickened myself in the run up to Christmas. Anyway, these tags came about because I forgot to buy any and I needed them for Damian and Moreen's Gifts, so here they are;

They are not brilliant in comparison to some made by you very talented crafters, and again they are something I don't really do, but needs must.Papermania paperSB and Die'sire DiesGems and tartan ribbonKitten image from magical Christmas Moments CD, by CupcakeWO poinsettiasCreative Expression DazzlersSilver lace from Hobby CraftHeart gems from my boxThey did the trick though.

To finish off here are my latest socks, made with yarn from a company called Five Moons, it's the softest yarn and I just love the Autumn shades. My little pap is Snowy, he belonged to my mum and he sings Frosty the Snowman, we have never managed to make out the words properly in all the years we've had him, but he's awfully cute and always brings a mile to my face.That's me for now, take care everyone and see you soon

Sunday, 22 December 2013

Hello Everyone, I do hope you are all well and keeping sane, we are almost at the Big Day, in fact I will reach there before you as my Christmas Countdown seems to be a day ahead of it's self.

I just wanted to thank everyone for visiting and commenting on my wee efforts, you have all been so encouraging, and also for the words of advice and support throughout what has been a bit of a difficult year for me, Alistair too as he had to put up with me. It all helped to keep me going, and come out the otherside, and the New Year begins a new phase in my life, so Thanks so much. I have so enjoyed getting to know you fab talented folk and, even meeting up with some of you, especially at the Birmingham NEC, that's you Ang and Christine, one of the highlights of my year, and all brought about by Patricia and Hazel, and of course their friend Elaine.

Mrs. Duck, from The Duck's Dodahs, otherwise know as Ang, wondered if I was going to show the socks I was knitting with some of the yarn I'd bought at the Craft Fair, well Ang here they are;

Now, these are for Lewis, who is Alistair's son, and not Damian as you thought Ang, I'm afraid he has to make do with socks from Next this year.The yarn used to make these, is from a Highland company called Ripple Yarns, who die all their own yarn using the colours of plants. Lewis had received them and is delighted with them, thankfully, here also is his card;

I wanted something a wee bit different for him, so I thought this wonderful image from http://nicecranedesigns.com/ would just do the job. The papers and sentiments are from Making Cards, and Navy card. Lots of sparkle, though it's not showing up well, and a few gems.I just love these Japanese images, they are called Stunning H.Kawase (ukiyo-e).

I don't expect to be back posting over Christmas, but will be trying to keep up with your blogs. I will however be still on the Christmas cards for the CCAYR DT, so sorry about that, I know many of you will be sick of the sight of those sorts of cards.

Well that's me for now, have a fabulous festive time and see you when it's all over,

Friday, 20 December 2013

Hello Everyone, I hope you are all fit and well, and sending kind thoughts to those folk who aren't.Thank so you all who visited and commented on my gift bag, I can report that Fiona just loved it and her Snowman card Isn't it just lovely when the recipient of your work really likes it and tell you, makes it all worth while.I'm pretty much on track with the Christmas preparations, really just the wrapping up to do and I'll get around to that at the weekend, and a bit of food shopping, but I don't go mad stocking up as the shops are open on Boxing Day if necessary. We will be at Damian and Moreen's for Christmas Day and they are organising the main course, and they make enough to feed the five thousand, so should be plenty to take home with us. I don't have a card tonight, again something different for me and I'm so delighted I've managed to make an origami box;

This is my first attempt, and I'm delighted with it, blowing my own trumpet here. I've been loving all the lovely boxes that some of you very talented folk have been making and I really wanted to have a go. I wanted it for Moreen's Christmas gift, which is one of Patricia, Summerhouse Crafts and Hazel's, Baskets of Joy, beautiful pendants.

Wednesday, 18 December 2013

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments on my last card, everyone is so busy just now, so I really do appreciate your visit. I hope you are all well and coping with the manic run up to Christmas, it's just so frightening to think we are almost there.I'm fortunate that I'm on holiday, again, this is the first time I've ever had so many holidays at the one time, and it will never happen again, so I'm making the most of it. This has come about because I was on sick leave for so long and now my holidays have to be taken before January. There is too another piece of news, as I was going through my phased return, I knew I could never go back to full-time within this particular job, so I requested reduced hours, little thinking it could be managed, we really do need all our full-time staff, but the organisation thought about it and offered me 18hrs, just a little over half of what I do at present. So after great deliberations and looking at finances, I've accepted. My hope is that I will be less tired, and less involved, so I begin on 1st. January. This is really quite a big step as I've never worked anything less than full-time in all my years of employment, not even when Damian was small, however, I'm looking as it as a winding down until I can properly retire in 2017.So to my offering of today;

Something a little different for me, my Chior buddy Fiona, adores the Snowman, well who doesn't, so I decided to make this to put her gift into.MB diesSnowman topper from Crafters Companion MagazinePapers from CDCore'dination Navy Card Lace and dew drops from Hobby CraftSentiment, one from my stashStarDustThat's all for now, have a fab day whatever your doing,

Sunday, 15 December 2013

Good Evening to you all,I'm a little bit late in posting my inspiration DT card for CCAYR, but better late than never.We hare half way through the month so therefore the Challenge and there is still loads of time for you to join in. All you need to do is create a card with a Christmas stocking.Here is my card,

I would love to tell you what stamp this is but, I'm well and truly stumped, I just can't remember.coloured though with Promarkers,Freebie Sentiment Core'dination CardPapermania Velvet RibbonThe Ribbon Girl Charm and silver cordPearls from my boxI hope it offers some inspiration to you, but pop in to http://christmascardsallyearround.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/mid-month-inspiration.html and see all the lovely cards the other DTs have made.

Thursday, 12 December 2013

Hello Fellow Bloggers and Visitors, it's once again been a wee while since I was last here, so I hope all is well with you all, but sending kind thoughts to those who aren't.Just where does the time go? I was doing quite nicely with Christmas preparations, but now held up by not having make the insides of my cards at the time of making them, and it seems to be taking me ages to do them. Note to self, make the insides at the same time. But I won't stress, I found some shop bought ones in my box of tricks if I run out of time.I was very disappointed in the Christmas Market in Edinburgh earlier in the week, every other stall seemed to have the same items and what there was, I though was quite tatty. The food stalls smelt wonderful though. So that was a pity as I wanted to get a couple of gifts for friends, but I've found something here in Inverness.I hope you are all coping with the run up to Christmas, it's a crazy time and why that should be I don't know, after all it comes around every year, and holds no surprises.Thanks to everyone who visited and commented on my previous card, I do appreciated all your comments. Unfortunately, I've been hampered by this PC in getting around to visit and comment on your blogs, so my apologies for missing some folk out. The machine keeps freezing and takes so long to bring up the pages that I'm loosing the will to live. I've been looking at new laptops and I will have to give in and get one soon.Anyway, here is my card for today;

This is one I was asked to make, and I've used a Cupcake CD, Magical Christmas MomentsCore'dination Card in GreenDiesire Holly DieThe Ribbon Girl Seam RibbonXcut Holly Border PunchPearls and Dazzler from my boxComputer generated Sentiment cut with SB Petite LabelsStar DustThe lady it is for adores cats, so I feel she will like this.That's all from me tonight, off now to decorated a gift bag, look after yourselves,

Sunday, 8 December 2013

Hello Everyone, followers and visitors alike and I hope you are enjoying your weekend.We are have a very dark and rainy day here in Inverness, but it's not so cold.Thank you to everyone who visited and left kind comments on my last card, all comments are very much appreciated, especially at this busy time of the year.

I've just completed my first full, full-time week at work, and by the time Friday came I didn't know what way was up. We had been particularly busy, the run up to Christmas is always a difficult time for our clients and they can be very demanding of your time. Many of them sink into a depression as they have no one around and of course Christmas is supposedly a happy family time, but not for many people I'm afraid. Anyway we do what we can at the project, but thankfully there are lighter moments too. Thankfully, though I am off on holiday next week. Not doing much, going to Edinburgh on Tuesday with Alistair to have a look at the Christmas markets in Princess Street Gardens, so I'm looking forward to that.

I don't do Christmas stress, well, I do enough of that for other things, so giving myself a break, but in reality, I don't really have all that much to do for it, the biggest part is writing the cards; and talking of cards here is today's offering;

Robyn's Fetish Word Image, heat embossed with Wow Silver embossing powderLOTV Sentiment.Freebie Paper Nitwits SnowmanCore'dination cardThe Ribbon Girl Snowflake CharmHobby Craft RibbonCard CandyHobby House Pearls Star Dust and star gemMy photography is pants these days so sorry about that.Alistair is on the dinner tonight so I'm off to put my feet up and maybe a cat nap. Take care everyone and see you soon'

Thursday, 5 December 2013

Good Evening to you All and I hope everyone is well and good, but if not here are some kind thoughts for a speedy recovery.What about this storm!!, I hope no one has been badly affected by it. We have only had the garden fence down, easily fixed when you've a hubby who can cut a paper sock, but most of The Black Isle is without power and may be for a while longer. There is now snow and the temp continues to drop. Oh well it is December.Thank you all so much for the lovely, kind comments on the Christmas Stocking card,Alistair was tickled pink that he got a mention for his good cutting out.Welcome too to my latest follower, Crafting Granny, I do hope you continue to like what I do and call in often, and I will be popping over to see you soon.Here is my offering for today,

Oh dear a bit of a fuzzy photo, sorryPapermania StampPromarkersCore'dinations Red CardFreebie sentimentBakers Twine and Pearls from my boxStar Dust SticklesThis is another attempt at the CAS style, hope you like it.That's all from me tonight, see you soon I hope,

Sunday, 1 December 2013

Hello Everyone, hope today finds you all well.Just popping in from CCAYR with my inspirational card for the December Challenge which this time around has the theme of Christmas Stockings, quite an easy one really, just include a Christmas Stocking somewhere on your card. Here is my card;

My husband very kindly cut a stocking shape for me, he didn't even draw the shape , just got the scissors and began cutting, he's awfully clever, then I decorated using;Papermania Christmas in the Country Paper and Velvet RibbonLOTV sentimentSB Bauble Shape and Poinsettia diesSizzix Foliage dieFluffy Stuff from WoodwearGems from my box and lots of SparkleI hope it offers you inspiration and don't forget to visit http://christmascardsallyearround.blogspot.co.uk/where you will see what fabulous cards the other DTs have made.I hope you will join in fun with us.